Attention all Knifemakers!.....Product dealers/retailers and/or knife makers/sharpeners/hobbyists (etc) are not permitted to insert business related text/videos/images (company/company name/product references) and/or links into your signature line, your homepage url (within the homepage profile box), within any posts, within your avatar, nor anywhere else on this site. Market research (such as asking questions regarding or referring to products/services that you make/offer for sale or posting pictures of finished projects) is prohibited. These features are reserved for supporting vendors and hobbyists.....Also, there is no need to announce to the community that you are a knifemaker unless you're trying to sell something so please refrain from sharing.
Thanks for your co-operation!

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Walnut Bases and Strops

Heading to a lumber yard tomorrow to pick up some walnut for bases and strops. I like to use quartersawn walnut, as it this cut, it is the most stable.

I will need to ask you guys what finish you would prefer. I can do Tru-Oil finish or Poly. Poly would be good if the base might come in contact with water. Tru-Oil has the closest finish to a natural look.

M

"All beauty that has no foundation in use, soon grows distasteful and needs continuous replacement with something new." The Shakers' saying.

Poly is probably cheaper and a little more water resistant, no? Also seems like I have to do at least 4 coats of tru oil to get a consistent finish. Poly usually takes less.

They are comparable in price. I buy Tru-Oil in quart bottles and I use a type of Poly that you apply by hand. Both would require 5-6 coats to build up a thin film.

Tru-Oil finish preserves a natural look. Poly has a duller finish, but offers a better protection from elements. Both will be in satin finish (not gloss).

When you spray felt strops with diamond spray you will get a little bit of it on the wood. Not a big deal - you can clean it up with a wet rag.

I use a drop of water or two on the surface of the plate when sharpening, and then just wash the plate and pad-dry. You need very little water to lubricate the surface for smooth sharpening.

I hope to pick some nice grain walnut today for bases/strops and cutting boards. It's like a treasure hunt, you never know what you will find.

I am also in the process of ordering new branding heads with my logo 1" tall and 1/2" tall (my old logo is Marko Designs). It's going to be two+ weeks before I get the new heads, so if I end up shipping bases/strops before that, the old logo will be burned onto the bottom side of a strop or base. The new logo will go on a side of either of these.

Thanks,

M

"All beauty that has no foundation in use, soon grows distasteful and needs continuous replacement with something new." The Shakers' saying.

Does Poly really take away form the looks? In my case the bases are display pieces, I would consider beautiful functional tools (contradicting? perhaps...), and over time it will get wet, either through moisture or just being around the kitchen.... I'll say Poly.

Marko, I'm assuming you have been using these already, what's your experience? how are these holding up?